THE TROPHY cabinet at Dooradoyle that groaned under the weight of silverware last season took on a more spartan appearance during the present campaign as Garryowen was forced to relinquish one trinket after another.
Last Saturday the club faced the prospect of ending the season empty-handed if they couldn't negotiate a way past Limerick rivals Shannon in the AIB League Division One semi-final at Coonagh. The Garryowen team demonstrated character and no little ability in adversity to emerge with a record-winning margin at the home of the All-Ireland title winning totems. This Sunday, Paul Neville will lead Garryowen back to the All Ireland final hoping to emulate their triumph of last season against the same opponents, Cork Constitution, at the same venue, Musgrave Park.
Neville pointed to the Shannon game as the point of no return in the context of their season and how the team would be judged against last year's excellence. "A big factor would have been relinquishing the Munster Senior Cup so quickly. It was hugely disappointing. We had one trophy left.
"All the hype was about Shannon not having been beaten in a semi-final or the knock-out stage of a tournament. That was a huge thing for us and we used it very well for our motivation. Then there was the fact it was on in Coonagh: with all due respect it wouldn't be the best venue in the world for a game of rugby."
The Garryowen captain admitted Shannon's decision to give their opponents first use of the strong wind surprised him but thereafter that Garryowen earned their victory by dint of a fine performance. "I thought we played cleverly, used the elements well in the first half. We held onto the ball and scored some good tries. To be fair to them they didn't play that well but they weren't allowed to a certain extent. As time went on they got frustrated."
It is now Con that occupy Garryowen's focus and the defending champions know their Cork hosts will have nursed a grievance since losing that final by the narrowest of margins, 16-15. This season in the league format, the teams were locked at 12-12 in horrendous conditions. "Obviously games between us are always tight enough in recent times. The (Cork-Limerick) rivalry is still there," he conceded with a smile.
"Con will be motivated to get back for last year. They have been very consistent in the league phase, going back several years and have fallen at the semi-final and final stage recently. That'll be a huge motivation factor for them. They led for most of the game until we hit back with a late try.
"We have been as consistent in making top fours and we have our bit of misfortune about three or four years ago when we spent a few seasons missing out on overall honours at the latter stage of the tournament. I think the fact last year's game was so tight will calm the nerves somewhat for the guys who were there last year."
Neville spoke with admiration with regard to Shannon's four league titles in succession, followed by a three-in-a-row. "Winning a league is just so difficult because it's a long hard campaign so to do what Shannon have done is fantastic. We have never won back-to-back titles and that is a huge motivation for Sunday."
